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Sound effects technician Jack Terri (John Travolta) is out recording atmospheric noise for a horror film when he accidentally captures a car accident on tape. Back at his workshop, Jack listens closely to the tape and discovers evidence of a political conspiracy. He now knows that he must reveal the truth, but the killers are on his trail, and he's going to have to use every trick he knows just to stay alive. Directed by Brian de Palma, 'Blow Out' freely mixes elements from Antonioni's 'Blow Up' and Coppola's 'The Conversation', along with incidental details based on the Senator Edward Kennedy Chappaquiddick incident.
From the Back Cover
Jack Terri (Travolta) is a talented audio technician who makes his living by recording unique sounds for horror movies. But when he accidentally tapes an automobile crash that kills a presidential candidate and injures his young mistress, Sally (Nancy Allen), Jack is hurled into a mystery far more terrifying than any of this films! Soon he and Sally must fight to stay alive as they uncover an explosive political conspiracy that will send shockwaves to the highest levels of the government.
Soundtrack: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Blow out is a classic example of the cinema of Brian De Palma and features a career best perfomance from John Travolta
The film follows John Travolta film sound recordist who records a car crash that kills a presdential candidate. He becomes convinced that the car crash was no accident and starts to investigate it with help of a woman who was in the car at the time of the crash.
The film follows John Travolta film sound recordist who records a car crash that kills a presdential candidate. He becomes convinced that the car crash was no accident and starts to investigate it with help of a woman who was in the car at the time of the crash.
De Palma cleverly uses different techniques like split screens and deep focus photography to make us emphasis with Travolta's character as he despartely tries to convince people that an assaination has taken place.
The film features many classic sequences in which De Palma uses every technique in the book to create tension and suspense for the audience. Your are left on the edge of your seat to the final tragic ending.
While the DVD is thankfully in 2:35:1 widescreen format rather than the awful pan and scan version that has previously been available on video. The transfer is not as good as it might have been which is a pity as it lessens the impact of some of the shots. There are also no extras apart from a trailer on this DVD, which is a pity as it would have been interesting to hear De Palma discuss this classic film.
The DVD is still worth owning if you are a De Palma fan its just a shame that MGM could have not taken a bit more care with its presentation.
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I loved this film when it first came out. It's a reinvention of the Antonioni film 'Blow Up'. In the original a photographer takes a shot of something he shouldn't have. In this version, John Travolta is a sound engineer for a small-time film company whose microphones 'hear' a sound at the scene of an 'accident'. John Travolta is pretty good in the role and it's an mystery. Nancy Allen doesn't really do it for me, but then she was married to the director (and excelled in some other films). John Lithgow and Dennis Franz are as dependable as ever.
The story is clever and the connection between the beginning and surprise ending very well executed.
A creepy little film, typical Brian de Palma, and it doesn't follow the normal pattern. It is dated, though, which is why I've only given it a 3 star.
The story is clever and the connection between the beginning and surprise ending very well executed.
A creepy little film, typical Brian de Palma, and it doesn't follow the normal pattern. It is dated, though, which is why I've only given it a 3 star.
By Hagrid's Umbrella
VINE™ VOICE
John Travolta plays a low end (horror) film sound engineer and is out late one night recording effects when he witnesses a car crashing into the river and rushes into help. On the face of it it seems a straight accident however Travolta's recollection of the sounds and subsequent study of the recording makes him suspicious and he sets off to try and find the truth. Being asked a favour on behalf of the man in the car also raises our suspicions.
It's a film that has the confidence to not be rushed and lets you sink into his position and wonder what on earth he's going to do next. Its a bit nerdy with all the sound/films clips but weaves a good web that has plenty going on and only a couple of minor weak points in the plot.
Wasn't really expecting much from this having found an old recording of it but I found this 1981 film engrossing. I guess it's easiest to compare this to, apparently, the sound engineers favorite The Conversation and whilst I liked that too I felt this had a more engaging story and was less dry, if still hard hitting. There are a few sound things going on in this as with The Conversation but not having a clue about sound I've no idea how they two films compare on that level.
Finally I have to say I've never really assessed Travolta's performances before but in this he is excellent.
It's a film that has the confidence to not be rushed and lets you sink into his position and wonder what on earth he's going to do next. Its a bit nerdy with all the sound/films clips but weaves a good web that has plenty going on and only a couple of minor weak points in the plot.
Wasn't really expecting much from this having found an old recording of it but I found this 1981 film engrossing. I guess it's easiest to compare this to, apparently, the sound engineers favorite The Conversation and whilst I liked that too I felt this had a more engaging story and was less dry, if still hard hitting. There are a few sound things going on in this as with The Conversation but not having a clue about sound I've no idea how they two films compare on that level.
Finally I have to say I've never really assessed Travolta's performances before but in this he is excellent.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Perfect Scream!
Blow Out is one of Brian De Palmas best movies. The film has a similar style with some of his other top films such as Body Double and Raising Cain. Read more
Published 16 months ago by j.r
4.0 out of 5 stars
BLOW OUT
This film was panned by the critics but it is a good film which has an un -Hollywood end and John Lithgow as a real nasty !!
Published on 1 July 2009 by D. Gough
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lurid thriller which annoys as much as it entertains
While some elements of this film pleased me, generally I found its style a little too overdone, a little too intent on trying to make an impact. Read more
Published on 26 May 2008 by Lou Knee
4.0 out of 5 stars
The film has aged due to a rather trite subject
This Brian de Palma film is essential in our western cinema. It picks the theme so marvelously exploited by Hitchcock of the voyeur who sees a crime (Room with a view), a murder... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2007 by Jacques COULARDEAU
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent
When I found out that this film had bombed on its release at the box office, I was sickened, but a part of me was glad, because some of the best movies do fail at the cinema, but... Read more
Published on 8 July 2007 by T. Charnley
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